For the 12th consecutive year, the Alliance convened its members for a concerted advocacy effort on behalf of international exchange programs. The Alliance’s annual Advocacy Day—February 29 and March 1 in Washington, DC—featured 72 participants from 26 member organizations, representing 25 States and the District of Columbia. They visited 94 Congressional offices and, while most everyone met with legislative staff members handling foreign policy issues, a handful of participants actually got to speak with their members of Congress.

International education experience is immensely valuable and makes students more attractive to potential employers, according to a new study recently presented by the British Council, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and Ipsos Public Affairs.

Back in January, writing in the New York Times, former Harvard President and Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers asserted that “English’s emergence as the global language…make it less clear that the substantial investment necessary to speak a foreign tongue is universally worthwhile.” A variety of voices wholeheartedly disagreed, arguing that learning a foreign language makes an English speaker more globally competent and thus more attractive to employers; improves cognitive ability; and generally makes life a lot more interesting.

► The Alliance reported on its 12th consecutive Advocacy Day that took place in Washington, DC on February 29 and March 1. The event featured 72 participants from 26 member organizations, representing 25 States and the District of Columbia.